Posts Tagged With: abundant life

The frontispiece to the Gospel of John from the Saint Johns Bible, a beautiful modern hand-calligraphied Bible produced in medieval style

There are three themes (among others) I am seeing a lot in John. They show up in this chapter too.

First, I am struck by how many times the word “life” is used in John. In particular, John really drives the point home in a strong way that Jesus offers his followers life, both here and now and in the hereafter.

I came so that they could have life — yes, and have it to overflowing. (10:10)

Second, repeatedly we are reminded in this overtly evangelistic book that one can judge the spiritual veracity of a person by their deeds. You can tell something about the tree from its fruit. Reader (original and still today), do you want to know if Jesus is for real? Look at what he did.

If I’m not doing the works of my father, don’t believe me. But if I am doing them, well — even if you don’t believe me, believe the works! (10:37-38a)

Third, scholars have opined that one of the possible purposes for the Fourth Gospel is to counter an over-glorification of John the Baptist. I have never thought of it before nor noticed how many times John shows up in this gospel. Yes, the point is being driven home in a strong way: Jesus is far superior to John.

“John never did any signs,” they said, “but everything that John said about this man was true.” (10:41)